Gasoline and diesel prices went up 3.6 percent and 4 percent respectively, while prices of agency services, plane tickets and hotel accommodation were dragged down by declining travel demand.

The CPI in urban areas and the countryside both increased 2.3 percent.

China’s CPI for 2018 rose 2.1 percent year-on-year, up from 1.6 percent for 2017. The growth exceeded 2 percent for the first time this year, but remained well below the government’s target of around 3 percent for 2019.